The nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Michigan launched Bridge Magazine in September 2011 to help bolster in-depth coverage of statewide issues. A staff of professional journalists, including nearly two dozen freelance reporters with significant past experience at Michigan newspapers, publish Bridge online each Tuesday and Thursday.

“We are excited to bring the tremendous reporting of Bridge Magazine to our website, our mobile apps and our newspapers,” said Bill Emkow, director of state news for MLive Media Group. “The need for in-depth journalism will not wane. The platforms simply change. We will work together with the Center for Michigan to bring you reports that could shape the future of Michigan.”

The collaboration with Bridge contributes to MLive Media Group’s recently announced efforts to reinvent its news and content delivery across the state, featuring a team of state-level reporters dedicated to government, business, investigative projects, education and entertainment. Bridge Magazine content will contribute to MLive Media Group’s growing presence in Lansing (the state capital media market), metro Detroit, and in outstate communities.

“Dozens of experienced journalists used to deliver daily coverage and issues analysis out of thriving newspaper, television and radio bureaus in Lansing,” said John Bebow, president of the Center for Michigan / Bridge Magazine and a former investigative reporter at newspapers across the state. “While those days are gone, new and entrepreneurial journalism efforts are emerging in Michigan and across the country. Bridge Magazine and MLive Media Group are among those. This partnership is an innovative example of how journalists are working hard to adapt to the changing information economy and deliver quality content to readers.”

Since its launch last fall, Bridge Magazine’s reports on many topics – including changes in the state economy, the impact of welfare reform on families, the high cost of college student debt, the future Michigan jobs picture, and a city-by-city tally of the change in property values – have been cited many times by traditional newspapers and radio stations across the state.

In the past year, MLive.com featured investigations on the under-reporting of concealed weapons violations around the state, examining why Michigan is No. 2 in the nation in juvenile lifers without the chance for parole, and the personal impact of distracted drivers despite laws against texting while driving.

“The Center for Michigan has a vision for journalism that dovetails with our mission: engaging citizens on issues that are important to them, then providing balanced and in-depth coverage for those pertinent statewide issues,” Emkow said. “It makes sense that the state’s largest media source work alongside a group so dedicated to making a positive impact on our state.”

Bridge Magazine’s in-depth reports, as well as guest commentary from its 42 North blog, will be available to MLive readers here. Bridge Magazine content also will appear in MLive Media Group’s local newspapers at its discretion. Bridge will continue to publish on its own web site as well while offering its popular Michigan Truth Squad political advertising watchdog service to all media outlets across the state.

“While Bridge readership is growing quickly on its own, we see this partnership as an excellent opportunity to get our stories in front of the state’s largest, most geographically diverse audience of news consumers,” Bebow said. “We know many statewide leaders are reading Bridge – now we can also better reach everyday news consumers.”